About Me

I am so excited that you’ve landed on my blog, The Crafty Quilter! My name is Julie Cefalu and I am the mother of four amazing children and the wife to one amazing husband. In 2015 we welcomed our first granddaughter, Amelia, to our family. We are empty nesters and live in the bay area of California with our dog, Cooper, and Toby the tortoise.

I get to teach classes and work at The Granary which is one of the oldest designated quilt shops in the country and a beautiful shop to visit. I also have an online classroom at The Quilt Show where you’ll find my videos which offer a variety of quilting tips and tricks.

I am so blessed that I get to do what I love and love what I do!

I hope to inspire you along your creative journey, whether it be quilting, paper crafting, cooking, decorating, or gardening. As the song goes: “These are a few of my favorite things”.

You can contact me by email at: julie@thecraftyquilter.com. I’d love to hear from you!

48 thoughts on “About Me”

Hi Julie I always enjoy reading and learning from your blog. For a long time Melissa over at Missouri Mel kept a running list of all the current giveaways. I’ve been trying to get someone else interested in doing this since she stopped. Maybe with all your contacts you could find someone to take over. It was a great way for those of us who can’t get out much to wander around the internet meet new people and sometimes win something.

Hi Julie! I just came across a quilt block you made on August 28th 2013, you said in your blog that the pattern was from the Fat Quarter Shop’s designer block of the month for 2013. I love your block and the fabrics, could you possibly tell me what thee name of this block is or where I could buy just this pattern? Thank you, janicelashley@gmail.com

Hi Julie, I was inquiring to see if the quilt in the picture with your dog Cooper is a pattern of yours? Been watching your tutorials on You Tube great Job!!!!. Also printed the Poinsettia pillow, and ” Joy ” picture to make for the Holidays.

Hi Julia, Luv your fun blog and your great suggestions on UFO, etc. I have lost the pattern for a quilt that is partially cut and hope the pattern was from you or someone you know! It was based upon Moda Christmas Print Juniper Berries. If I remember correctly it had a border in the Juniper Berries Print and the blocks were from a layer cake. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Dear Julie, I stumbled across your blog while searching for different stars. Thank you for your wonderful generosity in sharing you patterns and ideas in a manner that can either be printed or as a PDF. living in Australia far away from the fantastic America quilt scene postage is a very major cost e.g. US$18.00 postage for an US$11.00 pattern. That is about A$25.00 in postage which I really appreciate your gift. Love your blog, thanks again, Lorraine

I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world. This is the most comprehensive list of Top 100 Quilting Blogs on the internet and I’m honored to have you as part of this!

Also, you have the honor of displaying the badge on your blog. Use the code to display the badge proudly on your blog.

Julie: I have been taping some videos recently and stressing out about doing one on using stencils and marking. After reading your well written and illustrated blog/article, I don’t need to. I will now just tell folks to go to your web site for the best and most complete description that has ever been written.

My husband was reading about who makes Janome sewing sewing machines which we both found to be well written and very interesting. So I found the rest of your site and would like to subscribe. Lovely website.

Hi, Julie! I just watched your storage segment on TQS and love your ideas. But I especially love the quilt used as your background! I’ve been looking for the perfect quilt pattern for my daughter’s newly re-done bedroom and your backdrop is exactly her colors and modern to boot! Could you please help me by giving me the pattern name and fabric line you used? I’d be thrilled to surprise her with it! Thank you!

I’ve got a picture of your cute kids! Hi Aunt Julie:)
One of my kindergarteners gave me a decorated clipboard and I L-O-V-E it! I thought the boys could help me make boards for their teachers so I googled ‘decorated clip boards’ and you came up. So nice to ‘see’ you again! Tell everyone ‘hi!’
Lisa

Hi Julie! I have been participating in the Benartex Blog Hop and am really enjoying it. I have already “signed up” for the 2 sites you mentioned in order to enter the fabric giveaway/contest. I have also added your blog to my new blog list—thanks for some good ideas! I’m not sure if this is where you want the blog hop comments, but it was the “space” I could find! 🙂

Thank you for your interest in my posts. Be sure to go deeper into my site. Watch the videos. If you really want to expand your business,fill in the application and start learning more. Talk later, Ron

Hi, I was wondering if you could tell me the name of point me in the right direction of the block on the top left of your banner? At the top of your page. I really love it and it would work great with a focus fabric I have in mind. Thanks for your help.

I love this block too, I think I found it…it’s called Lone Star of Paradise. It’s block 7 of the needlework project under Quilty Stitches menu item at LittleMissShabby.com web site. She’s doing it as a needlework pattern but with the design printout, you could convert it to a quilt block. She also references a book that contains a variation. Good Luck! Suzanne

You can find this block in Camille Roskelley’s patterns at Thimble Blossoms. It’s called Fireworks. She offers it as a paper pattern or an instant PDF at her web site. I just bought it. 🙂 Have fun!
Suzanne

Hi Julie!
I am a friend of Kelly’s here in Austin, and she told me about your blog. I’m so excited to explore your site. I just started sewing a year ago, and made my first quilt recently. Kelly showed me the beautiful one you made her years ago, and I can’t wait to make one like it for my own kids one day. Hope to meet you one day!

Here’s some information about an upcoming Quilt Exhibition at the Community School of Music and Arts in Mountain View, CA, that might be of interet. It’s free and open to the public:

Connecting Threads: Quilts Made at the Day Worker Center of Mountain View
Friday, October 11 through Sunday, December 1
Opening Reception – Friday, October 25, 6-8 pm

For four years, men and women from a variety of countries, many of them immigrants from Mexico, Central America, and South America, have been involved in quilt-making while waiting to be employed through the Day Worker Center of Mountain View. This unique exhibition will display their work publicly for the first time. Connecting Threads highlights numerous quilts, each depicting personal images, stories, memories, dreams, and hopes of the day workers. The exhibition also features a “behind-the-scenes” photographic essay.

The show’s opening reception on Friday, October 25, will feature the world premiere of Sueños de Esperanza, by pianist Henry Mollicone with soprano Elena Galvan. Based on poems by Maria Marroquin, Executive Director of the Day Worker Center of Mountain View, Sueños de Esperanza, is a song cycle telling the dramatic stories of four women from the Day Worker Center who immigrated to California from Mexico.

Hi Julie,
My daughter, Joanna(we love The Granary) said you were going to be teaching classes using the Quick Curve Ruler. Jenny is a friend of mine. I do her QAL’s & post pics on my blog. I also have a Pinterest board(sharonsseams2b) for Quick Curve Ruler quilts.
Your christmas in July Blog Hop was fun.

Hi Julie,
I absolutely LOVE your Winter Seeds table topper! I was able to print out all of your directions, but for some reason was not able to access the SEED templates. Would you be so kind as to e-mail them to me?

Just saw your Winter Seeds table runner on facebook. What a fun site you have. I had to laugh when I read ‘about you’. We have a tortoise too! We’ve had him about 2 yrs and he’s still a little guy about 6″ long but has grown almost 2″ in 2 yrs. He was rescued from wondering around the local creek with no home. His name is Herbie.
Love your projects. I’m excited to get started on several. Thanks for sharing.
Karen

I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was wondering what all is required to get setup? I’m assuming
having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very web smart so I’m not
100% positive. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

One of my favorite beginning resources was this book: Blogging for Bliss by Tara Frey. You’ll find most of the information that you need to get started there plus tons of inspiration! You can also check out WordPress.org which is the hosting platform that I use. Good Luck!

eek! I’ve been thinking of you and praying for you all week. I’m sure you are a myriad of emotions right now. But know this: you are loved. you are a blessing. and you are not alone in this. praying that God’s grace, peace and strength are with you as you begin this journey.looking forward to your updates!

Thanks so much for this wonderful blog, Amy! What a powerful example of the effectiveness of prayer & how wonderful that not only you, but everyone on board the plane, was protected! Here’s the first verse of Â Hymn #213 that I have enjoyed thinking about all day: “O God, our help in ages past, /Â Our hope for time to come, /Â Our shelter from theÂ stormyÂ blast, /Â And our eternal home.”Appreciate everyone’s comments, as well!! |

Help Julie, i would love to learn to Quilt. I live in Henderson Nv. I have an Aunt in Hayward area when i come to visit i will try and contact u so that i can come to the Quilt shop u work and play at and meet u and perhaps take a class. I really want ur help i am also crafty too but want to learn to Q so badly i want to start with the coffee rug u made for Christmas 2012. I love it , I lost my mother this Christmas season ,i am very sad and would love to keep my hands busy. I have a strong faith so i will be better , any suggestions to start my quilting craft Thank you have a nice day . i hope its not too cold in the bay area i usually freeze there but do love the area. We are usually warm and def dry here. Love to you and your family . Happy New Year and blessings to you XXX

What a nice web site and information! Found your site by accident, but it sure helped me. I just “PINNED” a queen sized quilt only to turn it over and find several “puckers” in the fabric, and thought “Oh No…Now I have to undue all the pins and re-do. So watched several U-Tube sites and then yours (and save your site) and thought this is definitely the way to go…spray baste! Going tomorrow to buy some 505!! Thanks for great photos, explanations and site! Sandie

I need your help as I am going insane little by little. Wednesday night I saw one of your quilts on Pinterest – it has a white background and has columns of different colored squares turned so it’s like a diamond shape – multicolored. I have had internet connection problems this week and before I could “pin” I lost connection. Would it be possible to get the link for this quilt?
TIA
Eugenia

Julie, this is great! I don’t quilt anymore but it is fun to see the techniques to get beautiful quilts. Good job on the tips. Are easy to understand. Once in a while, I hope you put more delicious recipes (veggie). 🙂

What fun your website is, Julie! I don’t know how you have time to work, quilt, cook and be a wife and Mom. I really enjoyed the Beginning Quilting class and I’m working on my fourth quilt and third table runner. Maybe I’ll become a real quilter when I learn to sew a straight line but I’m sure having fun in the mean while. Thanks.
Sharon

So pleased to have found your blog with useful tips Julie……and so gratifying so see someone else with a pile of unquilted projects! I live in Norway but was lucky to find the charming ‘Granary’ last October while visiting my daughter in Sunnyvale. I really hope I can sign up for one of your classes there sometime Julie….I’ll be back in the autumn:-)

It’s nice to know that I’m reaching as far away as Norway! My great grandparents were born in Norway – I still need to visit your beautiful country. Thanks for visiting my blog, Edith! I hope we meet in person some time.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. It always makes me feel good to hear from new visitors. Your comment was sweet and put a smile on my face. I love Heather’s work, she did a great job on my banner (I’m a repeat customer, too!). I hope you’ll come back. I ♥ Unity stamps….the KOM is a great deal.

About me…

Hi there! Welcome to The Crafty Quilter. I'm Julie Cefalu, and this is where I get to express my creativity to a larger audience. I love to share quilting tips and tutorials along with the latest creative happenings in the blogging world. Thanks for visiting, and I hope you come back soon!Search for:

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